This analysis of primary documents allows readers to understand Shakespeare’s tragedies within the context of historical issues of Renaissance England.
• Provides primary source documents for close reading of four of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies
• Helps readers to relate primary source documents to Shakespeare’s plays using narrative material
• Offers an introductory essay as an overview of the social and historical context of the plays
• Suggestions for further reading direct users to sources of additional information
• Presents a chronology that summarizes relevant historical events